🍦Why the superyacht LoveBug sank

Good morning, Annapolis. Congratulations to Mark and Brooke Cohen from Always Ice Cream Company for getting married on Saturday. Mark’s truly been a fan of Naptown Scoop from our first post. Mostly because he thought we were a competing ice cream shop and was relieved to find out we just write emails.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Duffy Perkins

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Eyewitnesses saw something unusual in the Annapolis Harbor during Thursdays storms. Just before 3 PM, a small waterspout formed on Spa Creek, made landfall at the Severna Sailing Association for about 500 feet before dissipating in the Severn River. The National Weather Service officially classified it as a 65 mph EF-0 tornado – the strongest is EF-5 which requires 200 mph winds. There was minor damage to several boats but no injuries.

Last July, a 122-foot San Lorenzo yacht sank in the West River in about 12 feet of water. Just recently, the National Transportation Safety Board released an 11-page report detailing the incident. Turns out the cause was an open toy garage door and an open door inside the garage that led to the engine room. Many yachts over 100 feet have toy garages where jet skis, e-foils, and sometimes even other boats are stored.

After it was salvaged, LoveBug was towed to New Jersey where a company called Yank Marine pulled it out of the water. Nearly a year of cleanup later, LoveBug was placed back in the water yesterday en route to Turkey, likely for a refit (which is basically a renovation for yachts).

When you’re driving over the Bay Bridge staring out at the Chesapeake, do you ever notice the huge cargo ships and wonder, “Who drives those things?”

The short answer is that these cargo ships are driven by professionals called pilots, but not the kind that fly planes. Ship pilots are highly qualified specialists that navigate these ships carrying all kinds of cargo in or out of a harbor (and through all the waters in between those harbors). This can be tough because some of these ships have up to 47 feet of draft, aka how much of the ship is underwater. And parts of the Baltimore Harbor are only 50 feet deep. Do that math.

When we say these pilots are highly qualified specialists, we mean it. They often study at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York, are required to have a Coast Guard license, and as part of their certification, have to draw 10 nautical charts of the Bay from memory.

That training is important because it’s not an easy job — they’re on call all the time, and a 200-mile trip (called a transit when it comes to cargo shipping) from Virginia to Baltimore takes anywhere from 8 to 16 hours. We also have to point out how they board the ships in the first place: by taking a fast pilot boat out to the ship, climbing up a rope ladder hung over the side of the ship, and trying to time it all with the waves so they avoid injury.

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Listen up, workout warriors. The Yard Gym is flexing its way into Annapolis soon at 902 Commerce Rd. Originally launched in Australia in 2020 by husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Tiarne Bova, The Yard Gym is not the kind of place you sit on your phone for way too long between sets. It’s a boutique strength and conditioning facility built for all fitness levels and ages in a community-focused space. With over 40 weekly group classes, you’ll find structured sessions like Rig Side (strength), Turf Side (conditioning and functional movements), PAYDAY (individual goals), and GAMEDAY (team challenges). The opening date is still under wraps, but stay tuned — we’ll let you know when it’s time to lift off. 🏋️‍♀️

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Retirement planning has changed tremendously in the past several decades. In your parents’ or grandparents’ day, your average professional relied on a pension that was set up by their employer as well as Social Security benefits for their retirement. Investing was a conversation left to the extremely wealthy. And financial planning was a far-off concept.

That is no longer the case today. At Scarborough Capital Management, we’ve seen some of these changes take place firsthand. Let’s take a look at some of the primary differences that have occurred.

🎶 BloomHaven Saturday 6:30 PM. The Black-Eyed Suzies and their bluegrass harmonies are this week’s band at this outdoor concert series on Maryland Hall’s lawn.

🍷 Afro Soca Wine, Music, & Food Festival Saturday 1–8 PM. Just what the name says — you’ll get to sample wine, live music, and delicious food at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds.

🚓 National Night Out Tuesday 6–8 PM. This family-friendly gathering lets kids interact with law enforcement in a positive environment. Events are held in districts around the county, including Annapolis Mall (Southern District) and Kinder Farm Park (Eastern District).

🚓 City National Night Out Tuesday 5–8 PM. Annapolis City Police are observing National Night Out as well, with gatherings at locations like Busch Library and others.

🎥 Movies Under the Stars Saturday 7:15 PM. Head over to Annapolis Town Center for an outdoor screening of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

🌾 Summer Farm Market Saturday 9 AM. Join Wildberry and other local vendors for a Saturday morning market on the farm.

🚗 Carriages on West Street Sunday 9 AM. This all-Corvette car show on West Street combines auto appreciation with local history.

Did you hear that multi-day tickets sold out in less than an hour? You don’t want to sleep on getting your single-day tickets for what is frequently noted as one of the top three RennFests in the country (c’mon - everything’s bigger in Texas, but that doesn’t mean it’s better). Log onto the RennFest website at 10 AM today (and maybe a little earlier just to be safe?) to get your shot at tickets. Then, get ready for the mead hangovers, turkey legs in your lunch box, and finding flower petals in your hair for the next three weeks.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

A few seasons of rain, pollen, and mildew will do that. What used to be your favorite hangout now looks dull and dingy. Blue Heron Property Services can help. Their Soft Wash method removes grime without damaging the wood—no streaks, splinters, or gouges. Just clean, bright boards and a backyard you’ll love again. Annapolis homeowners trust Blue Heron to bring their decks back to life. Get your free estimate today.*

Step aboard the historic Wilma Lee for a spirited evening on the Chesapeake! Enjoy rum tastings by Lyon Rum and thrilling tales of Prohibition-era Rum Runners who ruled these waters with grit and rebellion. Cruise into sunset, sip craft spirits, and immerse yourself in the Bay’s bold, boozy past. 21+ | August 28 & October 2 | Eastport Departure.*

*indicates sponsored advertising content.

84 🌡️ 68 | 🌤️ | 5% | 💨 SSE 5 mph (4 knots)

82 🌡️ 72 | ⛅ | 4% | 💨 ENE 6 mph (5 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 81ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

🌳 🎵 = Outdoor Concert

49 West | The Backroom Sessions | 7:30–10:30 PM

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
Brian Boru | PJ and Neal | 6–9 PM
🌳🎵 Chronic Sailing’s Tunesday | Jay Crawdads | 6–8:30 PM
Middleton Tavern | Annapolis Songwriters Showcase | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Pirates Cove | Jesse Moody | 6–9 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Augustana w/ Will Dailey | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Justin Lafave | 6 PM

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who makes themself a new costume for Renn Fest every year.